Chapter 157: Pledge of Allegiance

"Shipbuilding Department."

Yunhai County government office.

Zhao Xu wrote three characters on the paper.

This was a new agency he had established in Yunhai County, and its function was to oversee the construction of warships.

The first director of the Shipbuilding Department was Chen Shou.

"Director Chen, the matter of building ships concerns the future trade routes of the Prince's Mansion; there cannot be the slightest negligence in this," Zhao Xu said, putting down his brush and speaking to Chen Shou with a serious expression.

After agreeing to serve the Prince's Mansion, Chen Shou had brought his wife and children to Yunhai County city.

"Yes, Your Highness, this subordinate will certainly exhaust every effort," Chen Shou said.

At this moment, he was actually more eager to start construction than Yan Wang.

However, the construction of such giant ships could by no means be completed in a single day.

After all, this giant ship was no less than a mobile fortress on the sea.

Zhao Xu nodded; the blueprints he had given Chen Shou were for a type of sailing warship called a Galleon.

In the contemporary sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, this type of sailing warship ran rampant on the seas.

It possessed the advantages of high speed and a heavy load of artillery, making it very suitable for use as a warship.

If he could build this kind of warship, combined with the artillery he was currently producing,

his merchant fleet would be able to run rampant on the seas.

And there was another reason for choosing this type of warship.

Rumors said that the ships emitting loud noises and Flame from the sea came from the West.

This indicated that in this world, the Age of Discovery had already begun.

The monarch and ministers of the Great Song were muddled and unaware of the stakes involved.

But he could not afford not to take precautions.

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The lessons of contemporary history were still vivid in his mind.

Having set the grand plan for shipbuilding,

Zhao Xu gave Chen Shou the authority to act with convenience.

If the Shipbuilding Department needed Silver or manpower, they could report directly to him.

After lingering in Yunhai County for another day, he and Chen Shou went to the seaside where he lived, determined the location for the Shipyard and the port, and he returned to Yancheng.

For now, the matter of shipbuilding would naturally be prepared.

But the construction of the fief and dealing with enemies on land were still the top priority.

Fanyang.

Guo Tu entered the Yuan Mansion, covered in the dust of travel.

Upon receiving the news, Yuan Li came out to welcome him, "How was this trip to the Grassland?"

"The Great King of the Black Iron Royal Tent is now Enke, the eldest son of Kutu. He wants the head of Mo Di as a condition; as long as you, my lord, offer this pledge of allegiance, he will meet with the Khan and form an alliance with the Yuan Family," Guo Tu reported exactly as it was.

"You mean the Northern Di will attack Yanguan next year?" Yuan Li's heart gave a sudden jolt.

"That is Enke's intention. The internal rebellions of the Northern Di have been quelled; currently, there are only some scattered battles on the borders of the extreme north, which should end soon. They will certainly head south next year," Guo Tu said.

A layer of cold sweat immediately broke out on Yuan Li's back.

Ten years.

Ten years had passed since the Ningjin Dusi was captured by the Northern Di.

During these ten years, the fear of the Northern Di heading south had always occupied the hearts of the Great Song's monarch and ministers.

And the Yuan Family, who faced the Northern Di directly, felt it even more deeply.

After all, the Northern Di's Autumn Hunt was merely to snatch some things, but if they headed south, Yanzhou would bear the brunt.

This time, the troops of three Northern Di royal tents had arrived at Yanguan.

This was a situation that had not occurred in these ten years.

After all, the territory of the Northern Di stretched ten thousand li from east to west.

And five thousand li from south to north.

The ten royal tents were distributed across such vast land to guard the Northern Di territory; unless there was a war, they would not move together.

Now, with three royal tents gathered in one place, the Northern Di must have a new plan.

And this plan was very likely to head south.

Therefore, he believed Guo Tu's words without doubt.

"The Northern Di is really going to head south." Yuan Li's fat body trembled slightly with fear.

He thought of the Ningjin Dusi.

If Yanguan fell, Yanzhou would be the next Ningjin Dusi.

Back then, the Ningjin Xiang Family, which was extremely popular in the Imperial Court and almost recognized by the Eight Great Influential Clans as the ninth great influential clan, didn't they vanish under the iron hooves of the Northern Di?

At that time, the Imperial Court also believed the Ningjin defense line was as solid as a golden soup and unbreakable.

At that time, there was even Yang Xuangan, who was as famous as Mo Di, guarding it, but in the end, didn't it still turn into powder?

Therefore, in his heart, he did not believe the nonsense that as long as Mo Di was there, Yanguan would stand.

The fate of the Yuan Family could not be entirely pinned on the premise that Mo Di could hold Yanguan.

Compared to that, the promise of the Northern Di people made him feel more at ease.

"Mo Di."

Yuan Li narrowed his eyes.

Right now, he had to think of a way out for himself and for the Yuan Family.

The mountains and rivers of the Great Song could shatter, and the Royal Clan of the Great Song could perish.

But there was no need for his Yuan Family to be as foolish as the Xiang Family and be buried along with them.

Dynasties change, and the Royal Clan comes and goes in Jinling City.

As long as his Yuan Family can survive, there is hope of sitting on that throne.

"Hmph, I have long had the intention to kill him," Yuan Li said coldly, "If he does not die, this Yanguan will never fall into the hands of the Yuan Family."

Guo Tu revealed a sinister smile, "My Lord has finally figured it out; the Yuan Family is what matters most. Now that Yan Wang is nearby, and the Emperor and the ministers in the Imperial Court intend to restrain the Yuan Family, why must you continue to fight the Northern Di as before to protect their peace? It is likely that once Yan Wang grows powerful, they will abandon the Yuan Family."

Guo Tu's words stirred the anger in Yuan Li's heart, and his complexion turned livid.

"Moreover, as long as we kill Mo Di and take Yanguan, with Yanguan in hand, we can threaten the Imperial Court internally and trade interests with the Northern Di externally; why not do it?" Guo Tu continued.

"Hmm, but there are many in the Imperial Court eyeing Yanguan; I am just afraid that if we take action, we will only benefit others," Yuan Li frowned.

"My Lord, the Northern Di's southward advance is a foregone conclusion. At this juncture, what is there to be wary of? Anyone going to Yanguan must pass through the Yuan Family's territory. If you do not want them to pass, can they fly over?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Li nodded slowly.

If he could kill Mo Di, he could naturally kill other generals coming to take up their posts.

As long as they are not people of his Yuan Family, they can forget about reaching Yanguan safely.

Just as Guo Tu said, since it has come to this, one might as well go all the way.

When the time comes, just pin the blame on the bandits of Yanzhou; what can the Imperial Court do to him?

At worst, he could defect to the Northern Di!

"However, Mo Di is at Yanguan; killing him will not be easy," Yuan Li frowned.

The condition set by Enke is no ordinary difficulty.

"My Lord has forgotten, every year before the New Year, Mo Di must return to the capital to report on his duties; at that time..." Guo Tu made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Hmm," Yuan Li nodded, "This time we must plan carefully; there can be no mistakes."

"Yes, My Lord." Guo Tu then took a piece of parchment from his bosom and presented it to Yuan Li.

Yuan Li glanced at it; on it were the matters Enke had agreed upon with him, as well as Enke's name and a bloody fingerprint.

A flash of resolve crossed his eyes; he ordered a Dagger to be brought, sliced his index finger, pressed it onto the parchment, and signed his own name.

"Return this to Enke and tell him that my Yuan Family will certainly keep our promise. I hope he will put in a good word before the Khan; perhaps in the future, we may even serve the same court," Yuan Li said.

Guo Tu carefully put away the parchment.

With this pledge of allegiance accepted, the Yuan Family would stand in an invincible position.

If the Northern Di pass through Yanguan, the Yuan Family will be unharmed.

If the Northern Di cannot pass through Yanguan, the Yuan Family will likewise be unharmed.

At that time, the Northern Di might rely even more on the Yuan Family and bribe them to be their inside agents.

And with the Yuan Family profiting from both sides, would that not be wonderful?

Exchanging a glance, both of them revealed smiles.